Toilet removal and disposal tray with raised platform

ABSTRACT

A toilet removal and disposal tray ( 1 ) for removing and transporting an old toilet from a bathroom. The toilet removal and disposal tray has a planar base panel ( 2 ) having a perimeter edge ( 5 ) and a perimeter wall ( 6 ) extending upward a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge. The perimeter wall contains any liquids that leak from the toilet after the toilet has been uninstalled and placed on the toilet removal and disposal tray. A raised platform ( 9 ) is spaced from the perimeter wall to create an outer reservoir ( 10 ) and an inner reservoir ( 11 ) to collect water.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/691,935 filed on Apr. 21, 2015 which is currently pending and was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/323,383 filed on Jul. 3, 2014 and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,091,048 on Jul. 28, 2015. The patent applications identified above are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the removal of toilets from homes and other buildings, more particularly, to a tray used for removing a toilet from a bathroom and disposing of the toilet in a clean and sanitary manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilets are commonly removed by a worker standing over a toilet and pulling the toilet up from the floor and then setting the toilet directly on the floor of the bathroom. The toilet is then carried to a truck or trash bin for disposal.

The removal of toilets can be unsanitary and cause a mess in the bathroom and throughout a home while the toilet is being carried outside. This can occur from water that has not completely drained from the toilet leaking onto the bathroom floor and other parts of a home including carpeted areas while being carried outside. This can also occur from the wax ring on the bottom of the toilet being set directly on the bathroom floor.

In addition, this is a dangerous task because toilets may be heavy and awkward to handle. The worker can easily suffer personal injuries, such as back injuries, from carrying such a heavy object in such an awkward position or damage items in the home, such as walls and/or furniture.

Therefore, a need exists for a toilet removal and disposal tray that attaches to the bottom of a toilet and protects the floor from water leaking from the toilet and from coming into contact with the used wax ring located on the bottom of the old toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toilet removal and disposal tray that attaches to the bottom of a toilet and protects the floor from water leaking from the toilet and from coming into contact with the used wax ring.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a toilet removal and disposal tray that is compact and easily carried and stored, such as in a plumber's work truck.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a toilet removal and disposal tray that may be disposable so that it can be thrown with the toilet after use.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a toilet removal and disposal tray for removing and transporting an old toilet from a bathroom.

The toilet removal and disposal tray has a base panel having a perimeter edge and a perimeter wall extending upward a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge. The perimeter wall contains any liquids that leak from the toilet after the toilet has been uninstalled and placed on the toilet removal and disposal tray.

The base panel of the tray preferably has a raised platform that is spaced from the perimeter wall to create an outer reservoir to collect water. The raised platform surrounds a second inner reservoir which also collects water and provides a space for the center of the toilet and wax ring to rest, thereby allowing the base of the toilet to rest level on the raised platform. Drain channels are preferably located on an upper surface of the raised platform to direct water from the toilet into the inner and/or outer reservoirs.

Two bolt hole connectors, which may be finger-shaped, cylindrical-shaped or conical-shaped projections, are preferably located on the either side of the inner reservoir on the upper surface of the raised platform to secure the toilet to the toilet removal and disposal tray by fitting through bolt holes located on the base of the toilet.

A strap channel is preferably located on a bottom surface of the toilet removal and disposal tray to provide a space for a strap to be secured around the toilet removal and disposal tray and toilet to secure the toilet to the toilet removal and disposal tray.

The tray may be made of a reusable material or of a cheaper material so the tray can be discarded with the toilet after use.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a toilet removal and disposal tray of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a toilet removal and disposal tray of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of a toilet removal and disposal tray of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 of a toilet removal and disposal tray of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of a toilet removal and disposal tray of the present invention having a notched reinforced edge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:

1. toilet removal and disposal tray, generally

2. base panel

3. top surface of base panel

4. bottom surface of base panel

5. perimeter edge of base panel

6. perimeter wall

7. upper edge of perimeter wall

8. lip

9. raised platform

10. outer reservoir

11. inner reservoir

12. drainage channel

13. upper surface of raised platform

14. strap channel

15. bolt hole connector

16. notched reinforced edge

17. notch

18. projection

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the toilet removal and disposal tray 1 of the present invention comprises a base panel 2 having a top surface 3, a bottom surface 4, and a perimeter edge 5. A perimeter wall 6 extends upward a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge 5. An upper edge 7 of the perimeter wall 6 may have a lip 8 on one or both sides to provide a place for a user to grab the toilet removal and disposal tray 1 when moving a toilet 2.

The base panel 2 of the tray 1 preferably has a raised platform 9 that is spaced from the perimeter wall 6 to create an outer reservoir 10 to collect water. The raised platform 9 surrounds a second inner reservoir 11 which also collects water and provides a space for the center of a toilet flange and old wax ring remnants to rest, thereby allowing the base of the toilet to rest level on the raised platform 9. Drainage channels 12 are preferably located on an upper surface 13 of the raised platform 9 to direct water from the toilet into the outer reservoir 10 and inner reservoir 11.

A strap channel 14 is preferably located on the bottom surface 4 of the toilet removal and disposal tray 1 to provide a space for a strap to be secured around the toilet removal and disposal tray 1 and toilet to secure the toilet to the toilet removal and disposal tray 1.

A toilet may be further secured to the toilet removal and disposal tray 1 by two bolt hole connectors 15, which may be finger-shaped, cylindrical-shaped or conical-shaped projections, are preferably located on the either side of the inner reservoir 11 on the upper surface 13 of the raised platform 9 to secure the toilet to the toilet removal and disposal tray 1 by fitting through bolt holes located on the base of the toilet.

With reference to FIG. 5, a perspective top view of a toilet removal and disposal tray 1 of the present invention having a notched reinforced edge 16. The notched reinforced edge 16 comprises a plurality of notches 17 that create projections 18 along the lip 8, which may be used to secure a strap to using a hook. The notched reinforced edge 16 prevents the lip 8 from bending under the pressure of the strap.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings. 

Having thus described my invention, I claim:
 1. A toilet removal and disposal tray comprising: a base panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter edge; a perimeter wall extending upward a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge; an upper edge located on the perimeter wall; and a raised platform that is spaced from the perimeter wall to create an outer reservoir to collect water within the toilet removal and disposal tray.
 2. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 1 further comprising: an inner reservoir created by the raised platform which collects water and provides a space for a center of a toilet flange and old wax ring remnants to rest, thereby allowing a base of a toilet to rest level on the raised platform.
 3. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 1 further comprising: at least one drainage channel located on an upper surface of the raised platform to direct water into the outer reservoir and inner reservoir.
 4. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 1 further comprising: at least one strap channel located on the bottom surface of the base panel.
 5. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 1 further comprising: a notched reinforced edge having at least one notch and at least one projection.
 6. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 1 further comprising: at least two bolt hole connectors located on an upper surface of the raised platform.
 7. A toilet removal and disposal tray comprising: a base panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter edge; a perimeter wall extending upward a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge; an upper edge located on the perimeter wall; a raised platform that is spaced from the perimeter wall to create an outer reservoir to collect water within the toilet removal and disposal tray; and an inner reservoir created by the raised platform which collects water and provides a space for a center of a toilet flange and old wax ring remnants to rest, thereby allowing a base of a toilet to rest level on the raised platform.
 8. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 7 further comprising: at least one drainage channel located on an upper surface of the raised platform to direct water into the outer reservoir and inner reservoir.
 9. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 7 further comprising: at least one strap channel located on the bottom surface of the base panel.
 10. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 7 further comprising: a notched reinforced edge having at least one notch and at least one projection.
 11. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 7 further comprising: at least two bolt hole connectors located on an upper surface of the raised platform.
 12. A toilet removal and disposal tray comprising: a base panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter edge; a perimeter wall extending upward a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge; an upper edge located on the perimeter wall; a raised platform that is spaced from the perimeter wall to create an outer reservoir to collect water within the toilet removal and disposal tray; and at least one drainage channel located on an upper surface of the raised platform to direct water into the outer reservoir and inner reservoir.
 13. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 12 further comprising: an inner reservoir created by the raised platform which collects water and provides a space for a center of a toilet flange and old wax ring remnants to rest, thereby allowing a base of a toilet to rest level on the raised platform.
 14. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 12 further comprising: at least one strap channel located on the bottom surface of the base panel.
 15. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 12 further comprising: a notched reinforced edge having at least one notch and at least one projection.
 16. The toilet removal and disposal tray of claim 12 further comprising: at least two bolt hole connectors located on an upper surface of the raised platform. 